| Family, children and the state
|
| Section A: What is a family?
|
| · The
normal ‘chaos’ of family law |
| ·
Historical development of the family as a cohesive unit |
| · The
traditional family: the law of marriage |
| · The
modern family: atypical families |
| Section B: Family breakdown
|
| · Broken
unions: a historical perspective on divorce |
| · Ending
a marriage: the law of divorce |
| ·
Alternatives to divorce: mediation |
| ·
Financial matters: the consequences of divorce |
| Section C: Children and the law
|
| · Legal
concepts of childhood |
| ·
Children’s rights |
| · The
welfare principle |
| ·
Parental responsibilities |
| Section D: State regulation of the
family |
| ·
Regulating reproduction |
| ·
Children in need and access to services |
| · Child
protection and the need for state intervention |
| ·
Adoption and the child as ‘gift’ |
Sequence:
Section A can be followed by section B or section C, but all
should be completed before section D. |
|
Textbooks:
Alison
Diduck, Law’s Families (Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2004), ISBN: 9780406967336 |
